Virgin Voyages NEW ‘Airline-Style’ Pricing + Gratuities Explained
Virgin Voyages will introduce airline-style fares that link price to flexibility and perks. Gratuities will be shown separately from the voyage fare. Read our full explainer below for details.
On October 7, 2025, Virgin Voyages will stop selling a single, one-size-fits-all cruise fare and introduce three options, Base, Essential, and Premium, under a new model named VoyageFair Choices. The concept is similar to airlines and hotels: more flexible rules and perks mean higher prices, while fewer change rights result in lower fares. Virgin Voyages are framing this as an industry first and a bold shake-up designed to give Sailors clearer comparisons and more control before they sail.
The Current Virgin Voyages Fare
Today, Virgin Voyages bundle the voyage, taxes and fees, WiFi, dining, entertainment—and gratuities—into one number. That’s easy to read but hard to compare, and it forces every Sailor into the same change and cancellation rules. The new structure separates flexibility from price, with clearer, comparable options across the industry and more choice by budget and needs.
Video Explainer
What Will Actually Change on October 7
For Sea Terrace and below, Sailors will be able to choose from three VoyageFair Choices. Think of them like airline and hotel rates: the more flexible the rules, the higher the price and the more perks you get.
Base
- Best For: Sailors who are price-led and sure of their dates.
- Refunds/Changes: Non-refundable; no date, name, or cabin changes.
- Dining Reservations: Open 15 days before sailing.
- Wi-Fi: Basic WiFi for 1 device per sailor (messaging, social media, light browsing).
- Basic is a new tier below Classic.
- Note: Lock-It-In Rates from October 7th 2025 will still be offered but provide the same access as above.
Essential
- Best For: Sailors looking for the familiar, “default” experience with some flexibility.
- Date Changes: Standard policies apply, eligible up to 45 days before the sailing.
- Name Changes: The Lead Sailor cannot be changed after booking. Fellow Sailors may be changed no later than 48 hours before sailing.
- Cabin Changes: Allowed.
- Dining Reservations: Open 45 days before sailing.
- WiFi: Classic WiFi for 1 device per sailor (messaging, social, up to 2× faster browsing, WiFi audio calling).
Premium
- Best For: Maximum flexibility and added perks.
- Date Changes: Standard policies apply, eligible up to 45 days before the sailing.
- Name Changes: All Sailors, including the main Sailor, may be changed no later than 48 hours before sailing.
- Cabin Changes: Allowed.
- Dining Reservations: Open 60 days before sailing (previously RockStar-timing).
- WiFi: Premium WiFi for 2 devices per sailor (streaming, video calls).
- Drinks Credit: $15 Bar Tab per Sailor per night.
- Priority Help: Access to a priority pre-voyage phone support line.
Rockstar/Mega Rockstar
- RockStar and Mega RockStar Quarters keep their existing perks and full flexiblity
- Dining Reservations upgrade: suite dining reservations open 120 days before sailing (earliest access).
Note on Loyalty: All levels still earn and receive the same Sailing Club perks as before including Deep Blue Extras and Blue Extras.
For more information on VoyageFair Choices, Wi-Fi, Dining Reservations & Tipping changes head to our dedicated guides.
Full Guide to VoyageFair Choices
What Isn’t Changing
The onboard Always Included experience remains: dining, entertainment, group fitness, soda and filtered water, and more. There’s still no tipping of individual crew, and the crew won’t know which fare you chose.
Legacy Fares – Before October 7th
If you booked before October 7, 2025, your “Legacy” fare stays as is however the dining reservation window get a bonus for “Legacy” fare bookings will upgrade to 60 days and Rockstars to 120 days. These rates remain within the same flexibility policies at time of booking (i.e can change sailor names, cabins etc)
Gratuity/Tipping Changes for Sailors
Gratuities will no longer appear bundled into the overall voyage fare. They’ll be displayed, and paid, separately:
- $20 per Sailor per night if pre-purchased before you sail.
- $22 per Sailor per night if settled on your onboard account.
A quick example: On a 7-night voyage for two Sailors totaling $3,500 today, you will instead see a $3,220 voyage fare plus $280 in pre-paid gratuities (7 nights × 2 Sailors × $20).
The total price of your vacation does not change; this is about transparency. All cabin types and all VoyageFair Choices pay the same nightly amount for gratuities.
There are no changes to the onboard tipping policies. For example, Sailors will not be expected to tip when ordering drinks. This change does not affect onboard staff, crew members’ wages will remain as they are today.
Which Fare Works for You
- You plan early and want options: Choose Premium for full change rights, earlier dining, faster WiFi, drinks credit and priority support.
- You want the familiar setup: Choose Essential for Classic WiFi, a 45-day dining window and the ability to change dates with standard policies.
- Unlike before, the main Sailor’s name can no longer be changed.
- You’re price-led and set on your dates: Choose Base for the lowest fare with no changes and a shorter dining booking window.
Key Takeaways
Virgin Voyages is moving to a pricing model already common in travel, with fares reflecting flexibility and perks, and gratuities displayed separately. The onboard experience itself is not changing, and crew pay remains the same.
For those who want the most flexibility, it may make sense to book before October 7 under the current system. We’ll also be updating our guides and adding dedicated pages to explain each VoyageFair Choice in detail.
Let Us Know Your Thoughts
What do you think about these changes? Leave a comment below or connect on Facebook and let us know what you think about the changes.
Still got questions? Check out our dedicated Q&A here covering everything from loyalty to lock-it-in rates.
